Golf swing training device

ABSTRACT

A golf training device in which an impact receiving golf ball element is mounted at the lower end of a pendulum accelerated from a stationary vertical position through an arcuate path of movement by the swing of a golfer&#39;&#39;s club. Proper movement of the golfer&#39;&#39;s club following initial impact is monitored by a switch mechanism to energize solenoid devices applying driving force to the pendulum in order to balance its static weight and avoid loading of the golfer&#39;&#39;s club during the practice swing. Indicators may be provided to detect excessive movement of the pendulum laterally of an arcuate path.

United States Patent lnventor Adol! R. Murat 43600 East Florida Avenue,Hemet, Calif. 92343 Appl. No. 849,795

Filed Aug. 13, 1969 Patented July 6, 1971 GOLF SWING TRAINING DEVICE 15Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 273/ 185, I 273/200. 273/197 Int. CL A631: 69/36 Field Search273/183, 184,185,186,191,l92,200,197

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1926 Penfrase 273/200 B1,940,033 12/1933 Von Schlegell .1 273/185 C 2,840,379 6/1958 Santoro273/192 3.325,169 6/1967 Mackniesh 273/186 B X 3,512,417 5/1970 Anello273/186 R X Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorneys-Clarence A.O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: A golf training device in whichan impact receiving golf ball element is mounted at the lower end of apendulum accelerated from a stationary vertical position through anarcuate path of movement by the swing of a golfer's club. Propermovement of the golfers club following initial impact is monitored by aswitch mechanism to energize solenoid devices applying driving force tothe pendulum in order to balance its static weight and avoid loading ofthe golfers club during the practice swing. lndicators may be providedto detect excessive movement of the pendulum laterally of an arcuatepath.

PATENTEUJUL BIB?! 3,591,185 SHEET [If 4 Ado/f R. Murat BMW WWW 3 Thisinvention relates to the training of golfers and more particularly toapparatus designed to improve the golf club swing of a sportsman.

Various golf swing training devices have been proposed which sometimesinvolve a practice golf ball element tethered so that golf swings may bepracticed without replacement of the golf ball. In such trainingdevices, the practice golf ball may be tethered by a lightweightflexible element to minimize loading imposed thereon by the tethering.However, in order to furnish any guide to the golfer, the path ofmovement of the practice ball must be gauged which usually requirescomplex analysis before the information obtained may be of anyassistance to the golfer. In other golf swing training devices,restraining devices for the body of the golfer have been proposed. Thisarrangement is of course also unsatisfactory since the use of a bodyrestraint would preclude practice under natural conditions. In yet othertypes of golf training devices, where the practice golf ball issuspended from a post or frame, the golf club is loaded during thepractice swing by the suspension linkages. Thus, practice under actualconditions is not possible.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to providea golf swing practice device which avoids the disadvantages anddrawbacks of prior devices such as aforementioned wherein a practicegolf ball is permanently suspended for impact by the golf club during apractice swing.

In accordance with the present invention, a practice golf ball elementis suspended by a pendulum member which undergoes arcuate movement inresponse to impact applied to the golf ball element by the golfers clubduring a practice swing. If the impact force and direction is correct aswell as the golf club followup movement, this is sensed by a switchmechanism which is operative through solenoid driving devices to balanceor compensate for the static weight load of the pendulum from which thepractice golf ball is suspended thereby avoiding any loading of the golfclub after impact and permitting the golfer to complete his practiceswing. Thus, the golfer may practice swinging under actual conditionsonce he has substantially mastered the proper golf swing procedure. Thegolf club is otherwise loaded to a varying degree if the practice swingis improper in any serious respect. The golfer may thereby physicallysense the need for improvement rather than rely upon subsequent analysisof geometrical data. Further, the training device may be provided withfacilities for indicating the nature of any error in the golfers swing.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the presentinvention and illustrating by dotted line a golfer taking a practiceswing.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially througha plane indicated by section line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view showing a portion of theapparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial top plan view of the apparatus with the pendulummember in an upper limit position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substan tiallythrough a plane indicated by section line 6-6 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through aplane indicated by section line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of another form of the apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a partial front elevational view of the apparatus shown inFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantiallythrough a plane indicated by section line 10-10 in FIG. 9. I

FIG. 11 is an-enlarged partial sectional view taken substantiallythrough'a plane indicated by section line 11-11 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a simplified electrical circuit diagram associated with theapparatus of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1, 2,and 4, the golf swing training apparatus generally denoted by referencenumeral 10 is supported on the ground by a base or platform 12 of asuitable size and shape. The base platform 12 is designed to support agolfer 14 as shown by dotted line in FIG. 1, for example. The golferassumes a position on the platform base 12 in operative relation to apendulum member generally referred to by reference numeral 16 supportinga practice golf ball element 18 located closely spaced above the topsurface of the base 12 when the pendulum is in a neutral, verticalposition as shown by solid line in FIG. 1. When the golfer takes apractice swing, bringing the club 19 into contact with the golf ballelement 18, the impact force applied to the golf ball element istransmitted to the pendulum member 16 causing it to move upwardly to aposition as shown by dotted line in FIG. 1. The pendulum member ispivotally suspended from its upper end by a vertical post 20 fixedlymounted in an adjusted position by a stand 22 which is fixed in anysuitable fashion to the base 12. The post also mounts a power operateddrive mechanism generally referred to by reference numeral 24 which isoperatively connected to the pendulum member 16 for applying a staticweight balancing force to the pendulum upon impact between the golfersclub and the ball element 18 as will be hereafter explained in furtherdetail. The drive mechanism 24 if desired, may be enclosed within a box26 as shown by dotted lines in FIGS. 2 and 4 within which controlcircuitry may also be housed. v

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the pendulum member in one embodimentof the invention is made of a tubular construction and includes a lowerend portion 28 that is generally offset from an intermediate section 30vertically aligned in parallel spaced relation to the stationary post 20in the neutral position of the pendulum member. An upper section 32 ofthe pendulum member is pivotally connected to the intermediate sectionby means of a pivot pin 34 as more clearly seen in FIG. 2 establishing ahinge axis between the upper and intermediate sections disposed inpcrspendicularspaced relation to the vertical longitudinal axis of thepost 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate section includes at itsupper end, a lateral extension 36 within which the upper section 32 isreceived, the lateral extension seating a spring 38 which bears againstthe upper section 32 so as to bias the intermediate sectionto a positionwith its longitudinal axis aligned with that of the upper section 32.The upper section of the pendulum member is rigidly secured to one endportion of a rocker shaft 40 pivotally mounted by the post 20.

The post 20 is of tubular construction and as more clearly shown in FIG.2, is fixedly held in a vertically adjusted position on the stand 22 bya setscrew element 42. Thus, the post may be adjusted in order to obtainthe proper location for the pivotal axis of the pendulum member whichextends through the rocker shaft 40. The rocker shaft is journaledwithin a tubular sleeve 44 secured to the upper end portion of the post.The drive mechanism 24 is secured to the end portion of the rocker shaft40 opposite the end to which the pendulum member 16 is connected.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drive mechanism 24 includes a crank arm46 that extends in opposite directions from the rocker shaft 40 to whichconnecting rods 48 and 50 are pivotally connected by pivot boltassemblies 52. Each connecting rod is associated with one of thesolenoid devices 54 and 56. The solenoid device 54 includes a solenoidwinding assembly 58 secured to the upper end of a supporting sleeve 60which is secured to a pivot bracket 62. The pivot bracket is pivotallymounted by a pivot bolt assembly 64 on a support 66 secured to andextending laterally from one side of the post. A solenoid plunger 68 isconnected to the connecting rod 48 and is slidable through the solenoidassembly 58 and the supporting sleeve 60 within which it is held in aretracted position as shown by dotted line in FIG. 3.

The solenoid device 56 similarly includes a solenoid wind- I ingassembly 70, the lower end of which is secured to the pivot bracket 72pivotally mounted by a pivot bolt assembly 74 on a support 76 secured toand extending laterally from the post on a side opposite the support 66.A sleeve 78 is secured to the upper end of the solenoid winding assembly70 within which the solenoid plunger connected to the connecting rod 50is held retracted.

It will therefore be apparent, that upon energization of one or both ofthe solenoid winding assemblies 58 and 70, the associated solenoidplungers will be axially displaced relative to the solenoid windingassemblies to thereby transmit torque through the connecting rods 48 and50, the crank arm 46 and the rocker shaft 40 to the pendulum member. Theresultant torque developed by energization of the solenoid devices 54and 56 is designed to balance the static weight of the pendulum memberin order to avoid loading of the golfers club following impact betweenthe club and the ball element 18 carried by the lower end portion 28 ofthe pendulum member. Thus, energization of the solenoid devices iseffected in response to impact between the golf club and the ballelement 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower end portion 28 of the pendulummember 16 includes a horizontal tubular section 80 within which amonitoring switch mechanism 82 is housed. The switch mechanism includesa pair of contact arms 84 and 86 that extend toward the open endof thetubular section 80 closed by a slide bearing block 88 secured inposition to the tubular section by fasteners 90. The contact elements 84and 86 include right angle terminal portions 92 and 94 to whichelectrical conductors are connected within the lower end portion 28 ofthe pendulum member and to which access may be provided by an opening inthe lower end portion closed by the plate 96. The ends of the springcontact elements 84 and 86 are adapted to be conductively bridged by anannular contact ring 98 carried on a nonconductive bar 100 connected tothe end of rod 102 within the tubular section 80. The rod 102 isslidably mounted by the slide bearing block 88 and is connected at anend opposite the-bar 100 to the golf ball element 18 by means of athrust element 104 against which one end of spring 106 abuts. The springis mounted on a tubular element 108 secured to the bearing block 88 andthrough which the rod 102 extends. The tubular element 108 is axiallyspaced from the thrust element 104 when the ball element 18 is biased toits extended position by the spring 106 reacting against the bearingblock 88 as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, when an impact force is applied tothe ball element 18 by the go]- fers club, it axially displaces the rod102 and bar 100 inwardly against the bias of spring 106 to a limitposition determined by the tubular element 108 to initially establishelectrical contact between the switch elements 84 and 86 and thentransmit the force to the pendulum member 16 causing it to angularlyaccelerate about its pivot axis through the rocker shaft 40. As long asthe force of the golf club exceeds the bias of spring 106 during theupward swing of the golf club, electrical contact is maintained by thering 98 between the contact elements 84 and 86. Electrical contactbetween the elements 84 and 86 causes energization of the solenoiddevices 54 and 56 associated with the drive mechanism 24 in order toapply torque to the pendulum member during its angular movement underthe impact force of the golf club. The torque applied to the pendulummember by the solenoid devices as hereinbefore indicated, is designed tobalance the static weight of the pendulum member so that it will notload the golf club during its swing. Should the followup velocity andforce transmitted by the golf club to the ball element 18 be reducedbelow the bias of spring I06 because of improper swing, electricalcontact will be broken between the contact elements 84 and 86 causingthe solenoid devices to be deenergized during upward angular movement ofthe pendulum member. The static weight of the pendulum member will thenload the golf club so that a golfer will physically sense that hispractice swing is improper.

In one form of the invention, the pendulum member is laterally displacedout of the path of the golfer's club whenit reaches a horizontalposition so that the pendulum member can no longer load the golfer'sclub at the upper end of the golf swing. Toward this end, a cam element110 is fixed to the upper end portion of the post as shown in FIGS. 1,2, 3 and 5. The upper lateral extension 36 of the intermediate section30 of the pendulum member engages the cam element 110 to cause theintermediate section and the lower end portion of the pendulum member topivot about the hinge axis extending I through pin 34 as the pendulummember approaches a horizontal position as shownin FIG. 5. Thus, thependulum member at the hinge pin 34 swings laterally out of the path ofthe golf club to permit the golfer to complete the swing. Further,upward movement of the pendulum member is limited by a stop extension112 on the cam element with which the pendulum member abuts to preventfurther upward movement about the pivotal axis extending through therocker shaft 40.

In another form of the invention, the hinge pin and separate uppersection for the pendulum member is eliminated in favor of a limit stop 114 secured to the upper end of the post 20 for engagement with apendulum member 16' when it reaches its upper position as shown bydotted line in FIG. 8. In this embodirnent of the invention, thependulum member is permitted to be angularly displaced to an upper limitposition more than from the vertical neutral position as shown by solidline in FIG. 8. Further, limited lateral displacement of the pendulummember 16' is accommodated relative to an upper section 32' as moreclearly seen in FIG. 9. The upper section 32' as shown in FIG. 10, has atubular connector 116 secured thereto as by welding. A pivot pin 118 iscarried by the connector 116 and extends through the upper end portionof the intermediate section 30 associated with the pendulum member 16'.Thus, the intermediate section and the lower end portion of the pendulummember may be laterally displaced about a hinge axis extending throughthe pivot pin 1 18 relative to the upper section 32' which is pivotallymounted by a rocker shaft 40' for angular displacement relative to thepost 20 as hereinbefore described in connection with FIGS. 1 through 7.A switch contact arm 120 is secured to one end of the pivot pin 118 soas to engage relatively stationary contact elements 122 carried by anonconductive mounting element 124 secured by fasteners 126 to theconnector 116. The connector and the pivot pin 118 are electricallyconductive so that an electrical connection may be established betweenthe movable contact 120 and one of the two contacts 122 when thependulum member is displaced laterally from an angular movement planeperpendicular to the pivot axis extending through the rocker shaft 40'journaled by the stationary post 20. The intermediate section 30 of thependulum member is normally held in a position with its longitudinalaxis aligned with the axis of the upper section 32' by a pair ofcentering springs 128 which react between the intermediate section 30'and a pair of limit stop arms 130 that depend downwardly from theconnector 116 on either side of the intermediate section 30' as moreclearly seen in FIG. 9. Thus, the fonn of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 8, 9 and 10 will accommodate lateral deflection of the pendulummember should impact with the ball element 18 be directed to one side orthe other of the angular movement plane extending centrally through thependulum member perpendicular to the pivot axis through the rocker shaft40'. Should the lateral deflection of the pendulum member be excessive,the switch contact 120 engages one of the contacts 122 in order toestablish a signal. Electrical conductors are accordingly connected tothe contacts 120 and 122 and may extend upwardly therefrom through theupper section 32' into a hollow portion of the rocker shaft 40 fromwhich the conductors extend through the sleeve 44 into the post 20 asmore clearly seen in FIG. 11.

As shown in FIG. 12, the movable contact 120 when engaged with one ofthe contacts 122, reflecting excessive lateral deflection lot thependulum member, completes an energizing circuit thr gh one of a pairofalerting devices including an indicator lzl mp 132 and an audibledevice such as a buzzer 134. The other pair of alerting devicessimilarly includes an indicator lamp 132' and a buzzer 134'. The lampswill visually indicate the direction of lateral deflection while thebuzzers 134 and 134' will be provided with different tones capable ofbeing distinguished from each other so that the golfer will beimmediately aware of the direction in which his swing is laterallyoffcenter. In order to energize the lamps and buzzers when contact isestablished, a suitable voltage source is connected at input terminals136 and 138 to the switch arm 120 and the parallel connected lamps inseries with the associated buzzers. The power terminal 136 is alsoconnected to the switch mechanism 82 hereinbefore described so that whenit is closed during a correct and proper swing of the golfer, anenergizing circuit is completed across relay coil 140 one terminal ofwhich is connected to the switch mechanism 82 and the other terminal tothe power terminal 138. Upon energization of the relay coil 140, thenormally open relay switches 142 and 144 associated therewith, areclosed to complete parallel energizing circuits through the solenoidwinding assemblies 58 and 70 thereby energizing the drive mechanism 24as hereinbefore described. If desired, the solenoid winding assembly 70and the solenoid device 56 associated therewith may be disabled byopening of the switch 146 .to thereby reduce the torque applied to thependulum member. This mode of operation may be more suitable forbeginners.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What I claim as new is as follows:

1. A golf training device comprising a base, a post fixedly mounted onthe base, a pendulum member pivotally mounted by the post having a lowerend portion closely spaced above the base, power operated meansconnected to the pendulum member for substantially balancing the staticweight of the pendulum member during movement thereof through a stroke,and monitoring means mounted by the lower end portion of the pendulummember for actuating said power operated means in response to acontinuous accelerating force transmitted to the pendulum member duringsaid movement thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 including means for limiting said strokeof the pendulum member along a path defining a plane of movementparallel to the post.

3. The combination of claim 2 including means for detecting lateraldisplacement of the pendulum member transversely of said plane ofmovement, and directional indicating means connected to said detectingmeans for warning of excessive lateral displacement.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said pendulum member includes anupper section, an intermediate section to which the lower end portion isrigidly connected, a rocker shaft connected to the upper section andpivotally mounted by the post about a fixed horizontal axis, and hingemeans pivotally connecting the intermediate section to the upper sectionfor accommodating lateral displacement of the intermediate sectionrelative to the upper section.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said power operated means includesat least two solenoid devices mounted by the post and connected to therocker shaft.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said monitoring means includes animpact receiving element movably mounted by the lower end portion of thependulum member, force transmitting means yieldably holding the impactreceiving element in an extended position relative to the lower endportion and switch means closed in response to displacement of theimpact receiving element to a retracted position while transmittingforce through the force transmitting means for energizing the oweroperated rneans.

7. he com matron of claim 1 wherein said monitoring means includes 'animpact receiving element movably mounted by the lower end portion of thependulum member, force transmitting means yieldably holding the impactreceiving element in an extended position relative to the lower endportion and switch means closed in response to displacement of theimpact receiving element to a retracted position while transmittingforce through the force transmitting means for energizing the poweroperated means.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said power operated means includesat least two solenoid devices mounted by the post and connected to thependulum member, and means for selectively disabling one of the solenoiddevices.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pendulum member includes anupper section, an intermediate section to which the lower end portion isrigidly connected, a rocker shaft connected to the upper section andpivotally mounted by the post about a fixed horizontal axis, and hingemeans pivotally connecting the intermediate section to the upper sectionfor accommodating lateral displacement of the intermediatesectionrclative to the upper section.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said power operated meansincludes at least one solenoid device mounted by the post and connectedto the rocker shaft.

11. The combination of claim 1 including means for detecting lateraldisplacement of the pendulum member, and directional indicating meansconnected to said detecting means for warning of excessive lateraldisplacement.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said pendulum member includes anupper section, an intermediate section to which the lower end portion isrigidly connected, a rocker shaft connected to the upper section andpivotally mounted by the post about a fixed horizontal axis, and hingemeans pivotally connecting the intermediate section to the upper sectionfor accommodating lateral displacement of the intermediate sectionrelative to the upper section.

13. A golf training device comprising a base, a post fixedly mounted onthe base, a pendulum member pivotally mounted by the post, poweroperated means connected to the pendulum member for maintaining movementimparted to the pendulum member, impact receiving means mounted by thependulum member for transmitting accelerating force to the pendulum, andmeans responsive to continued transmission of said accelerating forceupon movement of the pendulum member for energizing the power operatedmeans.

14. The combination of claim 13 including means for limiting movement ofthe pendulum member through an are exceeding from a neutral verticalposition.

15. The combination of claim 13 including means for detecting lateraldisplacement of the pendulum member, and directional indicating meansconnected to said detecting means for warning of excessive lateraldisplacement.

1. A golf training device comprising a base, a post fixedly mounted onthe base, a pendulum member pivotally mounted by the post having a lowerend portion closely spaced above the base, power operated meansconnected to the pendulum member for substantially balancing the staticweight of the pendulum member during movement thereof through a stroke,and monitoring means mounted by the lower end portion of the pendulummember for actuating said power operated means in response to acontinuous accelerating force transmitted to the pendulum member duringsaid movement thereof.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including means forlimiting said stroke of the pendulum member along a path defining aplane of movement parallel to the post.
 3. The combination of claim 2including means for detecting lateral displacement of the pendulummember transversely of said plane of movement, and directionalindicating means connected to said detecting means for warning ofexcessive lateral displacement.
 4. The combination of claim 3 whereinsaid pendulum member includes an upper section, an intermediate sectionto which the lower end portion is rigidly connected, a rocker shaftconnected to the upper section and pivotally mounted by the post about afixed horizontal axis, and hinge means pivotally connecting theintermediate section to the upper section for accommodating lateraldisplacement of the intermediate section relative to the upper section.5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said power operated means includesat least two solenoid devices mounted by the post and connected to therocker shaft.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said monitoringmeans includes an impact receiving element movably mounted by the lowerend portion of the pendulum member, force transmitting means yieldablyholding the impact receiving element in an extended position relative tothe lower end portion and switch means closed in response todisplacement of the impact receiving element to a retracted positionwhile transmitting force through the force transmitting means forenergizing the power operated means.
 7. The combination of claim 1wherein said monitoring means includes an impact receiving elementmovably mounted by the lower end portion of the pendulum member, forcetransmitting means yieldably holding the impact receiving element in anextended position relative to the lower end portion and switch meansclosed in response to displacement of the impact receiving element to aretracted position while transmitting force through the forcetransmitting means for energizing the power operated means.
 8. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said power operated means includes atleast two solenoid devices mounted by the post and connected to thependulum member, and means for selectively disabling one of the solenoiddevices.
 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pendulum memberincludes an upper section, an intermediate section to which the lowerend portion is rigidly connected, a rocker shaft connected to the uppersection and pivotally mounted by the post about a fixed horizontal axis,and hinge means pivotally connecting the intermediate section to theupper section for accommodating lateral displacement of the intermediatesection relative to the upper section.
 10. The combination of claim 9wherein said power operated means includes at least one solenoid devicemounted by the post and connected to the rocker shaft.
 11. Thecombination of claim 1 including means for detecting lateraldisplacement of the pendulum member, and directional indicating meansconnected to said detecting means for Warning of excessive lateraldisplacement.
 12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said pendulummember includes an upper section, an intermediate section to which thelower end portion is rigidly connected, a rocker shaft connected to theupper section and pivotally mounted by the post about a fixed horizontalaxis, and hinge means pivotally connecting the intermediate section tothe upper section for accommodating lateral displacement of theintermediate section relative to the upper section.
 13. A golf trainingdevice comprising a base, a post fixedly mounted on the base, a pendulummember pivotally mounted by the post, power operated means connected tothe pendulum member for maintaining movement imparted to the pendulummember, impact receiving means mounted by the pendulum member fortransmitting accelerating force to the pendulum, and means responsive tocontinued transmission of said accelerating force upon movement of thependulum member for energizing the power operated means.
 14. Thecombination of claim 13 including means for limiting movement of thependulum member through an arc exceeding 90* from a neutral verticalposition.
 15. The combination of claim 13 including means for detectinglateral displacement of the pendulum member, and directional indicatingmeans connected to said detecting means for warning of excessive lateraldisplacement.